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Counties Piloting Pre-K Program Meet to Discuss Implementation

The five counties in Indiana’s preschool pilot program met face-to-face with state officials for the first time Wednesday as they prepare to begin implementation.  Governor Mike Pence says four of the five are prepared to start their programs in January.

The state in July chose Allen, Jackson, Lake, Marion, and Vanderburgh counties to implement a state-funded pre-k pilot.  There are more than 15,000 children in the five counties eligible for the program, and more than 10,000 of those are considered unserved, meaning they’re not receiving federally-funded early childhood education. 

Governor Mike Pence says four of the counties are prepared to begin at least partial implementation January 1st, while Jackson County will need a little longer.  And he says there’s a great deal of urgency.

“First and foremost to help the kids that we can help but secondly, I want to get this program moving so that we can begin to learn from these programs, learn what will be the most effective way to go forward,” Pence said.

Pence adds the learning process will take years, not months.

“Indiana’s going to be studying these programs, studying the impact these programs are having on our kids, on their educational outcomes and then we’ll be making policy decisions about any additional programs in the future on that basis,” he said.

The governor notes he will adhere to his agreement with the legislature not to seek an expansion of pre-k next session.

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.